Beaufort County Commissioners discuss new jail Monday

We will be watching closely to see what comes up at a county board of commissioners meeting Monday afternoon.

Beaufort County Commissioner Hood Richardson is planning to present seven motions, most of those addressing the building of a new public safety facility or jail in Chocowinity.

Richardson, along with fellow commissioners Gary Brinn and Stan Deatherage want to stop construction of the jail.

"We do not need a jail," Richardson previously told WITN. "We do not want a jail. We cannot afford a jail."

A the Monday meeting, Richardson will also make a motion to freeze all hiring by the sheriff's office until a new sheriff is elected.

The meeting starts at 5 p.m. Monday, October 6th in the administrative building on West 3rd Street in Washington.

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Three current county commissioners are asking the state to block funding for a new Beaufort County jail.

Gary Brinn, Stan Deatherage, and Hood Richardson signed a letter to the Local Government Commission asking them to delay approving the county borrowing money for the new jail until after the November election.

"We do not need a jail," says Commissioner Hood Richardson. "We do not want a jail. We cannot afford a jail."

Richardson, Brinn and Deatherage say one of the commissioners who voted in favor of the jail isn't seeking re-election. They feel up to three new commissioners could be elected who oppose the construction.

One reason supporters say there's a need for it is because people can walk up to the jail windows and talk to prisoners right off the street.

"As you can see there is someone talking to inmates at this very time in front of the courthouse," says Commissioner Jerry Langley. "So that lets you know how secure this facility is and the damage that can be done through that window."

The three opposing commissioners say they plan to stop any construction, even if it has begun, when the new board of commissioners meets in December.

Also signing the letter were two commissioner candidates, and the head of the local NAACP.

Previous Story

Three current county commissioners are asking the state to block funding for a new Beaufort County jail.

Gary Brinn, Stan Deatherage, and Hood Richardson signed a letter to the Local Government Commission asking them to delay approving the county borrowing money for the new jail until after the November election.

The three say one of the commissioners who voted in favor of the jail isn't seeking re-election, while they feel up to three new commissioners could be elected who oppose the construction.

The three says they plan to stop any construction, even if it has begun, when the new board of commissioners meets in December.

Also signing the letter were two commissioner candidates, and the head of the local NAACP.

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We are anticipating some new details to be released Thursday about one county's divide on a new jail.

Some of those opposed to building the new facility in Beaufort County are hosting a press conference on the matter at 10 a.m. Thursday.

That groups said people on all sides of the issue will be attending the event.

The plan is to send a letter of notice to the Local Government Commission. That is the state agency which could potentially approve bonds that would pay to build the jail.

The meeting starts at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Beaufort County office building, 121 West Third Street.

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